Clamp



(No Model.)

T.A.APERRY. FLOURING CLAMP.

N0. 307,795. Patented Nov. 1'1, 1884.

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UNTTnn STATES PATENT @Trina THEODORE A. PERRY, OF PLYMOUTH, NORTH CAROLINA.

FLOORING-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,795, dated November l1, 1884.

Application filed September 5, 1884. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THEoDoRE A. PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Vashington and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flooring-Clamps; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures ot' reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevation of my improved clamp, showing it connected to the sleeper of the floor, the flooring-boards being in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof; and Fig. 3 an end view, partly in section, taken on line :c of Fig. l.

The present invention has for its object to provide a simple and effective clamp or implement for closing up the joints of flooringboards, which object I attain by the construction substantially as shown in the drawings and herein described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the j oist or sleeper of a floor, and B the flooring-boards. Upon the upper face of the j oist or sleeper A rests the horizontal portion of an angle-plate, C, cast with a lateral dove-- tail extension, a, said plate fitting snugly against the upper face and side of the joist or sleeper, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

A follower, D, is provided, which is adapted at its front or forward end to press against the outer one of the boards B, to close up the joint with the board next to it, said follower having a dovetail groove, c, to fit over the dovetail extension a.

The upper side of the plate C is cast with a lug, c, for pivoting thereto a cam-lever, E, provided with a suitable handle, d, for operating it.

rlhe inner end of the follower D is cast with a laterally-projecting pin, e, (shown in dot-ted lines,- Fig. 2,) which engages with the camgroovc f, thus forming a connection between the follower and cam-lever, by which means the follower is forced forward to press against the flooring-board or drawn back without the aid or assistance of a spring, as heretofore.

The inner end of the follower D is formed with a mortise, g, in which the face of the camlever E fits and bears, so as to take the strain off the pin e of said follower.

To the lug c of the angle-plate C is pivoted the upper end of an arm, F, which is of sufcient length to extend some distance below the joist or sleeper A upon one side thereof'. The arm F has a sliding block, G, connected to it by a set-screw, h, and against the rear side of said arm bears a fiat spring, H, which is pivoted to the angle-plate G. When the lever E is brought forward, a shoulder, z', upon the inner side thereof will strike that portion of the spring H above its pivotal connection, and by so doing will force the lower end of said spring against the arm F and throw it forward to bring the block G'tightly against the under side of the joist or sleeper A, and thus prevent the angle-plate C from sliding backward when closing up the joints in the 'iiooring-boards. After closing up the joints the lever E is pulled back, which releases the spring H from contact with the arm F, when said arm will drop down to a vertical position, and admit of the clamp or implement being removed and connected to the next joist or sleeper.

The block G can be set on the arm F to accommodate it to any thickness of joist or sleeper, and the angle-plate C is preferably provided with spurs 7c, to prevent any lateral motion of the plate upon the joist or sleeper, the spurs embedding themselves in the upper face thereof.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an implement or clamp for closing up the joints of flooring-boards, an angle-plate adapted to fit over the j oist or sleeper, and provided with a lateral dovetail extension, in combination with a cam-lever and a follower connected thereto, said follower having a dovetail groove upon its under side to fit over the dovetail extension of the angle-plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth,

2. In an implement or clamp for closing up the joints of iooring-boards, an angle-plate having a dovetail extension and a lug upon its upper side or face, in combination with a grooved cam-lever pivoted thereto, and a fol- IOO lower provided with a pin engaging with the groove, and having a dovetail groove upon its under side, substantially as specified.

3. In an implement or clamp for closing up the joints of flooring-boards7 an angle-plate adapted to fit over the joist or sleeper, and provided with a pivoted depending arm earrying an adjustable block, in combination with a grooved cam-lever pvoted to the angleplate, and a follower provided at its inner end with a laterallyproj ecting pin engaging with the groove in the lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an implement or clamp for closing up Vitnesses: C. A. NEALE,

R. H. GARNER. 

